Social aid for Swiss citizens resident abroad to be managed by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Bern, 05.11.2014 - The Federal Council has today adopted an ordinance that provides for the transfer of the section for "Social Aid for Swiss Citizens Resident Abroad" of the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) to the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). The integration of the section into the FDFA will be effective as of 1 January 2015 in line with the new law on persons and institutions abroad that will enter into force in 2015. This law stipulates in particular that the FDFA will become a one-stop resource centre for Swiss citizens and institutions abroad.
As of 1 January 2015, the dossiers of Swiss citizens who benefit from social services abroad or who find themselves in situations of need while abroad will handled by the FDFA. The decision of the Federal Council supports the wish for a one-stop-shop expressed notably in a parliamentary motion (11.3203, Swiss citizens abroad. Coordination of the services of the federal administration and creation of a one-stop-shop) that was introduced in March 2011 and which the government has recommended be accepted. Within the FDFA, the tasks that have been carried out to date by the section for Social Aid for Swiss Citizens Resident Abroad within the Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) will be taken over by the Consular Directorate. The Swiss representations abroad are already working closely with the FOJ to assist Swiss citizens abroad who find themselves in need.
With this administrative move the Federal Council aims to streamline the services that the federal administration provides to Swiss citizens abroad. To answer questions from Swiss citizens abroad, the FDFA has set up a helpline that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. This helpline has been working around the clock since 1 May 2012 and meets a real need in view of the fact that 700,000 Swiss citizens are living abroad and almost 16 million trips abroad are recorded every year.
Address for enquiries
FDFA Information
+41 58 462 31 53
info@eda.admin.ch
Jean-Marc Crevoisier
Head of FDFA Information
+41 (0)79 763 84 10
Publisher
The Federal Council
https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start.html
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html
